(Cross posted. Let's see if I actually get some use out of this journal)

It's January. Good month for starting out on things. There's a half done sculpture sitting on the mantlepiece, awaiting legs and a tail and fins (fins? You'll see..) and I want to do more again. Part of me is thinking about doing some private commissions to get a gallery of new work going. On the other hand I appreciate that people may not want to spend a lot of money right now what with it being January and all, so I'm also considering opening up to trades.

Problem with trades is this idea of demanding like for like. This is especially a problem with sculptures and other works that take a long time to work on. I put a lot of effort into work done for others, far more than I do for "for me" art. I can afford to skimp on myself, but for other people I will do the best I can. Unfortunately a lot of other people don't seem to have the same approach and handed over a quick sketch as their half of the exchange. Historically this never mattered much to me because I considered the art I made to be good practise, but when you're doing something that's not only time consuming but costs a lot in materials like sculpture does, you start to feel a bit let down. (Note this isn't based on any particular person. I am not attacking anyone. It's just a trend that seems to happen in trades)

This always puts me in a tough position. I don't know how to ask for good quality art without sounding nasty or elitist. It also makes me sound as though I'm biased against artists of lesser skill, which isn't true. I really don't mind if someone isn't honestly that good. I just want them to try their best, because I'm trying my best for them. Is that honestly too much to ask for? I don't believe it is, but it's no easy to explain it without sounding a git. And I am not a git. There are enough gits out there without me adding to them, and my rule is to at least try to be nice unless the other person gives me a reason not to. I go out of my way to do good quality work for others, and while I know I'm not the most amazing artist ever, I TRY. Is it that wrong to expect the other artist to do the same?